Ban Dangerous Dogs, Not Pit Bulls

I read the article about the woman calling for a pit bull ban. Certainly, if my child were mauled by a pit bull I would feel the same way and would be doing everything to protect my child and other children from vicious dog attacks. Certainly, we have a right to be concerned over dangerous dogs and should use current laws to enforce any attacks on people. Children shouldn’t have to feel unsafe.

However, I do not advocate breed specific ordinances. That’s because if it’s not the pit bull being abused and misused, then folks will find another breed to take its place. Besides, there are a number of breeds classified as pit bulls — will we ban them all?

Instead, local shelters and spay/neuter clinics should be developing an aggressive campaign to get pit bulls spayed and neutered. Many cities around the country offer free spay and neuter for these dogs and sometimes even will give the owner a $10 gift card as an incentive to get the dog into the clinic. Pit bulls are rarely sterilized without a push from the community, but San Antonio has no official programs in place that I know of to reduce the number of pit bulls living in our city.

While pit bulls have a reputation as dangerous dogs, not all pit bulls are dangerous, as you can see from the following reprint of an article I wrote a few years ago about a woman who faced some breed discrimination from her home owners association. We must ban dangerous dogs, not specific breeds.

What happens when a pit bull is good?

by Cathy Rosenthal

03/28/2004

Alexandra called to say that her neighborhood homeowners association had asked her to get rid of her dog. She was perplexed. Buddy had never caused any problems. He was never off-leash nor left “presents” in other people’s yards. At 4 1/2 years old, he had spent most of his youth in training and was preparing for his Canine Good Citizenship obedience title. Buddy also lives with an 8-year-old boy, who smothers his canine friend with affection and physical play.

So why is Buddy being asked to leave the neighborhood?

The dog’s only crime is that he is an American Staffordshire terrier, commonly known as a pit bull.

Now before you let your prejudices get the better of you, let me give you a bit of history on this dog if your knowledge of the breed only extends back a few years. Helen Keller, Fred Astaire and President Theodore Roosevelt all had pit bulls. The pit bull was the child-friendly dog made famous on the 1950s television show “The Little Rascals.” Pit bulls were also the official mascot for the United States during World War II “because of their courage and tenacity,” says Alexandra.

In other words, this breed was once as beloved as Lassie.

Today, the pit bull is considered a “vicious breed.” Reports of pit bull attacks can make any person wary. But consider that 10 years ago the vicious dog of the day was the Rottweiler, and 10 years before that it was the Doberman. Each decade seems to produce a new “vicious breed.”

That’s because it’s not the dogs, but some of the people who own them. Some people get these dogs as a status symbol; to make other people afraid; or to use them in a dog fight. These owners generally treat their dogs poorly. Sadly, these dogs are often left outside, sometimes on heavy chains, without any humane interaction. Bad breeding, cruel and negligent owners, and poor socialization all contribute to the “vicious dog” reputation.

What happens though when a pit bull has a loving owner, is properly socialized and is about to complete the highest levels of obedience work? You have a good dog and a very responsible pet owner. For this owner’s sake, I would like to address some common pit bull questions.

Do pit bulls have locking jaws? No, pit bulls are not alligators; their jaws are designed like every other dog. When they bite, they hold on, but this is out of determination, not a physical design.

What happens if a pit bull is aggressive toward other animals? Regardless of the breed, any dog can be aggressive toward other animals. Some dogs have high prey drives and chase cats. Some dogs, even pit bulls, have low prey drives and coexist peacefully with other animals. Aggression toward animals is not an indicator of aggression toward people.

Are pit bulls dangerous? Poorly bred, badly treated and unsocialized dogs of any breed can be a threat. Humane training and socialization are a must for all dogs.

What if a pit bull is aggressive toward humans? Any dog, regardless of breed, that shows human aggression, should be humanely euthanized, as this behavior is not typical.

The bottom line is that any breed that is properly trained and loved can be affectionate and friendly.

Let your homeowners association know that Texas prohibits breed specific ordinances, which means that your dog should be judged by his actions and not by his breed.

This column appeared in the Sunday, March 28, 2004, S.A. Life Section of the San Antonio Express-News.

About the Author

Cathy M. Rosenthal has more than 25 years of experience in public relations, communications and humane education in the animal welfare field. She has worked for local humane societies and national humane groups, appearing on hundreds of television and radio news and public affairs programs to address animal issues. She currently is a consultant for local and national animal welfare organizations, writing grants, annual reports and other marketing materials. She is also the author of several children's books about animals.